– CERRONE & BENAVIDEZ TOP WEC 45 FIGHTER SALARIES

The Nevada State Athletic Commission on Monday released the salaries for WEC 45: Cerrone vs. Ratcliff featuring a lightweight showdown between Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone and Ed “9mm” Ratcliff, which took place on Saturday, Dec. 19, at the Pearl at the Palms Resort Casion in Las Vegas.

The following figures are based on the fighter salary information that promoters are required by law to submit to the state athletic commissions, including the winners’ bonuses.

Although mixed martial arts fighters do not have collective bargaining or a union, the fighters’ salaries are still public record, just as with every other major sport in the United States. Any undisclosed bonuses that a promoter also pays its fighters, but does not disclose to the athletic commissions (specifically, pay-per-view bonuses, fight of the night bonuses, etc.), are not included in the figures below.

In the listings below, “Main Event Fighters” are defined as fighters who compete in the main event of a show. “Main Card Fighters” are defined as fighters whose fights appear on the main card, but not in the main event. “Preliminary Card Fighters” are defined as fighters whose matches take place before the main card goes on the air, regardless of whether or not those matches end up airing on the TV or Internet broadcast.

MAIN EVENT FIGHTERS

– Donald Cerrone $24,000 (includes $12,000 win bonus) def. Ed Ratcliff $9,000
*Cerrone and Ratcliff each also received a $10,000 bonus for Fight of the Night